The Den was a nice place. You wouldn't exactly call it kid-friendly, but they had a kid's menu, which the James boys did not eat off of because they both ate like teenagers. Perri wondered how she could afford to feed them when they were teenagers.
A man came running over. "Dr. James. I am so glad that you could make it!"
"Mr. Petras, I told you I am a sports medicine therapist. I am not a M.D."
"You fixed me. I walk because of you. As far as I am concerned, you are a doctor."
"Thank you. I appreciate the respect you give me," Holden said with a smile.
He started to walk. "Follow me. I have the party room all setup. It's private, and the kids can run around."
"Thank you. I appreciate everything."
"No problem, Doc. If you need anything, Paula will be happy to get it. All you need to do is ask."
"Fantastic," Holden said, shaking Mr. Petras' hand.
Petras motioned down the hallway. "Turn left. It's right there." He walked back into the main area.
Persephone shuffled the kids in. She saw everyone. "I thought you said you were told to invite the family. You didn't say the entire family!
We haven't been together in forever.
"Seriously, did you really need to invite her?"
"Come on, you haven't seen Annie in a year."
"No shit. On purpose."
"Just try to enjoy the day with your friends... and Andromeda."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I swear to God, if she says one shitty thing to me, I will walk out of here and leave my children for you to take care of the entire day."
"UNCLE JAKE!" the boys yelled in unison.
Jake turned around, got on his knees, and caught the boys as they crashed into him.
"Wow. When did you become linebackers." He joked. "How's my boys?"
"I'm great. He's still annoying," Bodhi said about Patrick.
"I'm great, and he's still trying to tie his shoes," Patrick replied, sticking out his tongue.
"Bad form! Plus, that's what I have you for."
As much as the boys bantered and teased each other, they loved each other and were very close. Bodhi was more outgoing, like his father, and Patrick was more reserved, like Perri. But they were funny, kind, and extremely smart. Perri homeschooled them because they learned at such an accelerated pace.
"You guys are unbelievable." Jake shook his head and stood up.
"Did you bring us anything, Uncle Jake?"
"Why would I do that?" He tried to sound serious.
"Because you always do. You're the best Uncle ever!" Patrick said.
"Hey! I take offense to that!" Holden said.
"You're the GOAT, Uncle Holden. But we could use some gifts every once in a while," Bodhi said.
"I do. It's called your birthday."
"Touche," Patrick replied.
"I'll give you them later. They are my car."
"Thanks, Uncle Jake!" The two boys ran away from them to inspect the place as children often do.
"SLOW DOWN!" she called after them.
Bodhi and Patrick ran out of the room and down the hallway. They wanted to find the bathrooms. Someone came around the corner, and they slammed into him and bounced backward, landing on their butts.
"Wow, I am sorry, mister," Patrick said, looking up.
"Wow. Are you a giant?" Bodhi said, looking up.
The man laughed. "I am to some people." He looked at the boys. "I like your hair, guys." He took a hand and lifted the boys. Their feet left the ground before they were standing.
They both touched their heads at the same time. "Mom did it," they said together.
"You two are mirror images of each other."
"That usually happens when your twins," Patrick said.
"Our mom is a twin. But she doesn't like hers, unlike us. I mean, he's not so bad once you get to know him," Bodhi said, putting his arm around Patrick's shoulders.
"He's better if you don't get to know him," Patrick said, elbowing Bodhi in the ribs.
He laughed. "Can I ask how old you guys are?"
"You gonna buy us a birthday gift?" Bodhi asked.
"Depends."
"On what?" Patrick asked.
"How old you are."
"How old do you think we are, mister?"
"By the looks of you, I would say eight. By your personalities, I would say sixteen." Please say you are eight, and this is just a very odd situation with two kids who look like me and are sporting my old hairstyle.
"We will be six in May," they said together.
"I was born at 3:15. I'm the big brother," Patrick said, looking proud.
"I was born at 3:42. Mom said I didn't want to come out the same as Patrick, and I just had to be difficult," Bodhi said.
"So your birthday is coming." He noticed the boy's sweatshirts. "You like the Black Bears?"
"They are my favorite team of all time."
"Why is that?" he asked.
"Because one of the players has the same name as me."
"BODHI O'NEILL! PATRICK HOLDEN! TIME TO FILL YOUR PIE HOLES!"
"They're playing our song. Gotta jet," Bodhi said. "Remember, we are going to be six in May."
"We like cash," Patrick interjected.
He looked like he was going to be sick.
"If you need to hit the head, it's right over there," Patrick said, pointing down the hallway.
"Interesting choice of words," the man said.
"Our mom says it. Bye!" Bodhi said.
"We gotta go eat, mister. Nice running into you," Bodhi said with a familiar smile.
He watched them run down the hall, their shoes lighting up as they ran, and his chest constricted.
Bodhi made his way to the bathroom. He braced himself against the sink. He looked at his reflection. "What the fuck is happening? I feel like I'm in an episode of Black Mirror. Those boys. They look just like me. They have my name. Holy shit. I think those are my fucking kids. Bodhi O'Neill? Patrick Holden? What the fuck." He was confused.
He ran to the first stall and immediately threw up. Twice.
"How the hell does the kid know what the word touche means?" Lewis asked, walking up to them, Ashley by his side.
"He asked what it meant, and I told him. The kid retains everything," Perri said.
She hugged Lewis and Ashley. "It's so good to see you. Ashley, are you up for a girls' night?"
Ashley bit the inside of her lip and couldn't really look at Perri. "Tonight? I guess so. I could use a night out."
"Ash, are you alright? You look a little pale. Maybe we should reschedule."
"Yes. Yes, that's probably a good idea."
Three employees carried food trays, setting them on a long table.
"Hi. I'm Paula. If you need anything, just ask."
"Thanks, Paula," Perri said. "We all appreciate you."
"I'll go call the boys. Why don't you start making their plates," Holden said.
He went to the door. "BODHI O'NEILL AND PATRICK HOLDEN! TIME TO FILL YOUR PIE HOLES!"
"I could have done that," Perri said, picking up a plate and starting to stack it full of pancakes.
The boys ran into the party room and approached their mother. "Mommy! We just met a giant—the biggest guy we've ever seen! He was bigger than Uncle Holden!" Patrick exclaimed.
"Better looking, too," Bodhi said, smiling. He had his mother's smile. At least something looked like her.
She laughed a little and smiled. "Really? Did you give him my phone number?"
No one was paying attention when he walked in. He saw her. She had her back to him, but she looked absolutely amazing. Her ass looked spectacular in the jeans she was wearing. He watched the little boys as they talked to her. He watched his little boys.
Jake came up behind her and put his hands on her hips and his chin on her shoulder. "You know, I didn't get my hug. But I'll settle for a kiss."
What the fuck? Bodhi thought, watching Jake with her. He felt jealousy rage through him. He looked at his sons, and he started to feel very angry. How could she keep this from me? I can't believe she had two beautiful children; no one ever mentioned it to me! Holden, you fucking prick. All of them kept it from me. Jake, Lewis, Joanna, Ashley. Did my dad know? His head was spinning. He felt like he was drunk.
She handed the boys their plates, and they carefully brought them to a table. She turned around and hugged Jake. She looked over and saw him. "Oh my God." She almost fainted, but Jake held her up.
"Persephone! Are you okay?" Jake asked, putting her back on her feet.
"MOMMY! Look, it's the giant? Still want me to give him your phone number?" Bodhi said, his mouth full of pancakes.
Everyone turned towards the door, and the room was silent. You could hear an owl hoot from three states over.
Bodhi looked around the room. He saw the shock in everyone's faces—everyone except Holden, Jake, and his little boys.
"Oh my God! Is it my birthday or something? This is going to be fucking epic entertainment!" Seriously, Andromeda?" Joanna said to her.
"What? Do you think I actually have any empathy for her? She brought everything on herself. All you have done is baby her. She doesn't know how shitty the world really can be."
"Luckily, she won't because she will never put herself in one of those positions."
"Yeah, I forgot that Perri is--"
"You know I suggest you go shower. I can smell your vag from here."
"You're a dumb whore."
"I just need to know if this Drama has an intermission. I got a tampon to change. I would rather do that than listen to you for one more second. You're like the human version of cramps. No wonder nobody likes you."
Joanna turned and left, leaving Annie standing there, shocked as shit.
Any idea how this is going to go down? What would you say if you were Bodhi?
Please follow, save, heart, rate... well, you know what I am begging for...LOL